This comparative study is two years research. First year was searched the documentaries of orientation and essence of curriculum development in primary and junior high school; second year was gathered seven sub-projects to investigate into the reformations and changes of the courses in languages, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, health and physical education, arts, and synthesis. Moreover, after comparison curriculum development, orientation, essence, teaching, assessment with other countries, suggestions would become the reference to inspire Taiwanese curriculum development. The research used documentary and literature review to study, investigate, compare, and analyze national curricula / standards which include America, England, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Finland and New Zealand. Furthermore, periodical meeting to understand the progress of the research and interviewing scholars and specialists in curriculum were also used in the methods. Integrating suggestions from the sub-projects there are divided into two aspects: A. Integral suggestions: a. simplifying curriculum content and objectives, and using graphs to display b. readjusting the overlapping content in learning areas and major issues c. paying more attention to localization, diversification and variation in the courses d. choosing suitable material which could link up with school and community e. exchanging teaching experiences or conditions with colleagues f. using multi-assessment and making supplementary measure g. building up teachers abilities in designing lesson plan and reinforcing searching teaching resources h. strengthening supplementary measures in training teachers, and system of certification and entrance exam. B. Courses suggestions: a. distinguishing knowledge and skill in languages- focusing on culture and usage in knowledge; adding thinking ability in skill b. clarifying the framework of teaching math and training math educator in mathematics c. separating science into technology to become two courses but strengthening their connection d. giving different plan in each learning stage in social studies e. teaching by themes in health and physical education f. using terms to name different concepts of the arts g. synthesis needs fostering life skills, orientations towards experience, thinking and practicing, and cooperating with other courses.
